Marben Restaurant

In bustling downtown Toronto, there is a brick and tinder building that stands out. Marben is one of Toronto's original farm-to-table restaurants. It continues to focus on fresh and local ingredients. High bar stools in canary yellow drench the palate in a colour meant to convey a deviation from all things stuffy. If you come with a ferocious appetite, the snacks to start are dangerously good. Daily baked bread comes with smoked butter and beet hummus. Patatas bravas come drenched in sauce and with a dollop of aioli work as a perfect accompaniment to a cold one. Mains are simple but well-executed. Delicate gnocchi are topped with a ragu of in-season veggies. Locally farmed trout gets the Spanish treatment with stewed chickpeas and clams. And you can get your brunch and lunch fixes at Marben, too, as the restaurant opens early.